Making the most of your dies

I'm collecting some of my ideas for using dies on this page and will add to it as and when I get time..

Edited. I have not been able to add ideas to this page for quite a while because of other commitments but you can see many more tutorials and ideas on my Pinterest boards and in particular on my Pinterest Tutorial page HERE which are regularly updated.Thanks for looking :)Little boxes with lids from square doily dies

I made some of these little boxes a few weeks ago and forgot to blog the details until I was reminded by a lady at the Belfast Crafts Fair - better late than never!

I've used DCWV Sweet Owl paper for the box and added a little raffia to the lid.

1. Cut a rectangle of paper measuring 18cm x 13cm and score at 2cm, 6cm, 10cm and 14cm. Score at 4cm on the other side. Fold all score lines.

2. Cut out the little corner piece which measures 2cm x 4cm and cut upto the 4cm score line where shown.

3. Put DST on the pieces shown above.

4. Stick the bottom pieces together, overlapping tightly, leaving the one without the DST to the outside.

1. Die cut and emboss the window, then draw around it on a longer piece of card. Continue the side lines for another 4.5cm and cut out.

2. Cut out a little drawer measuring 7cm x 2.5cm . Using the grid on the Tonic Studios Super Trimmer as a guide emboss an inlay with a fine embossing tool as shown.

3. Place the window and drawer on the cut out cabinet and then place a Spellbinders die (or similar) centrally below the drawer and mark the position.

4. Die cut the leg shape.

5. Attach the window and drawer to the back piece with 3D foam squares from Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

I have added gems to the drawer as handles, inked the cabinet and used the stamps from the Pick of the Bunch Through the Window set (coloured and cut out) as ornaments .

Door from a window die

Another little idea today for using the new Domed Window die from my new die and stamp release by Tonic Studios...I've simply used the "waste" from a couple of diecut windows, added some 3D foam squares and made a door.

Here's how I did it.

1. Die cut the frame,then turn the whole thing over with the pieces intact. Emboss the inner lines with a fine embossing tool - you'll "feel" the lines as you follow them.

2. These are the pieces from one window - you'll need an extra 2 squares from another die cut.

I spent a while getting some doily shapes cut out for use when I "got around to it" and had a look to see what new things I could make with them. I realised they were just the ideal size to make cute little bags - even better when you can use the matching doily shape and strip punch for a handle :)

I've threaded some fine gold ribbon through the doily strip on the handle this time

arched frame - and its coordinating border punch (Doily Border) along the bottom of the panel. I love the way these dies and punches match for a fully coordinated look.

The stamp is Rudbeckia from the Pick of the Bunch collection by Tonic Studios and its natural colour scheme is orange/yellow but I just decided to use artistic license and colour the flowers in Carmine and lilac instead to match the paper. The little butterfly from the same set got the same colour treatment plus a little glitter.

MAKING A ROSETTE WITH A DOILY DIE

I'm still having a little bit of trouble with the lack of light so I know this is a little blurred - but I'm sure you'll get the idea!

Tonic Studios have just released a new set of doily dies! You might remember way back in November when I got my new set of border punches to play with that I used them to make circles (you can see the original post HERE) ...well , the border punches were never really designed to do that but I really enjoyed the challenge of finding a new way to use them. Lots of you tried and succeeded but several just couldn't get the hang of it. I suggested to Tonic that it would be a great idea if they could produce a set of dies to make it achievable in an instant......and here they are!!

Thank you so much for the beautiful ideas and well explained tutorials. Can't wait to get started on the punches and dies ideas. The best cardmaking blog I have come across for a long time. Found you in a Cardmaking magazine. (bought in Australia)

Oh my goodness!!! I just discovered your blog through Pinterest, this is a lucky day!! Your ideas are amazing, so creative and fun. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity and great ideas with us.Hugs,Maria Rodriguez.

Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine

Pinterest

Facebook

Instagram

Copyright

My Logo

My digi images are available to buy here

About Me

I really enjoy making cards and love to share ideas with other crafters.
I like stamping and really love to draw my own sketches to colour.
I live in Co. Antrim,Northern Ireland with my husband and two sons.
Digi images featuring some of my own drawings are for sale on A Passion for Stamps
Please feel free to leave a comment to let me know you have visited.......Ruth

Copyright

I would be flattered if you take inspiration from my work but my cards are copyrighted and many of the images are my own sketches so please do not copy or use it for the purpose of claiming it as your own work, for publication or contest submissions.
Thanks, Ruth